Regular, partial water changes help to improve water quality by flushing out dissolved waste materials and replenishing essential minerals.

Water Lilies come in different sizes. If you have a small pond, choose a water lily with a small spread so it doesn’t overtake your pond. If you have a large pond, you can choose lilies with small, medium or large spreads.

Utsuri – is the term used to describe a koi with only 2 colours. It is a black koi with one other colour such as white (Shiro Utsuri), red (Hi Utsuri), or yellow (Ki Utsuri)

Hanako, the oldest koi have ever lived, was born in 1751 and lived until July 7, 1977 - an extrordinary 226 years! The age of Hanako was verifed by scale analysis. July 7 was named National Koi Day in honour of Hanako.

Keep a close eye on your pond during the winter months to ensure there is an opening in the ice to allow oxygen into the water and gases to escape.

Tosai is the Japanese term that refers to a koi that is 1 year old. Learn more Japanese Koi Terminolgy.

Adding LED Pond Lighting is great way to extend the time you can enjoy your pond. Lighting up waterfalls or fountains adds a whole new dimension to your pond at night.

Lotus make stunning pond plants. The larger varieties have huge leaves that grow up to 24” in diameter held up to 3 feet above the water. Their flowers are very fragrant and measure up to 8” in diameter. There are also medium and dwarf sized lotus that will suit any size pond or water feature.

Yes, water lettuce do actually flower! However, the flowers are so small most people never actually notice them.

Chagoi are single coloured koi that range from light greenish brown to dark brown. Although they don’t have bright colours or intricate patterns, they are well known for growing larger than other varieties. They are also renowned for being very friendly and docile and are usually the first koi to come and eat food from your hand.

Oxy-Pond Cleaners are a great product for spot treating string algae on waterfalls and in shallow streams. Simply turn off your pump, sprinkle it on any algae, wait about 15 minutes and turn your pump back on.

Great Blue Herons are typically solitary birds, so placing a lifelike heron decoy at eh edge of your pond often deters them from visiting your pond and eating your fish. If you have a heron that lives near your pond, moving your decoy around from time helps to maintain illusion.

Goldfish make ideal pets for small ponds because of their modest size. They typically grow 8”- 10" long, although they can occasionally get bigger. The best types of goldfish for outdoor ponds are Comets, Sarasa Goldfish and Shubunkins.

Having some algae in your pond isn’t a bad thing. In fact, algae consumes nutrients and waste products and helps to purify your pond water. Many small zooplankton feed on algae which then become food for small fish.

While Tropical Water Lilies may be a bit expensive and will not survive the winter in the pond except in very warm climates, they are definitely worth it. They bloom profusely all summer long; they are available in many colours and they often have large exquisitely patterned leaves.

Floating plants like water lettuce and water hyacinths provide shelter and hiding places for koi and goldfish and can protect them from predators like herons.